Following New Zealand, Michael and I traveled to Thailand as part of our 2007 career break. The following is a video overview of our experience. (This video also features Laos)
Text Version: We were excited to be moving on to Thailand and Laos – two countries whose cultures were completely different from our own.
Michael and I traveled to Thailand as part of our 2007 career break. The following is an excerpt from our travel blog.
[singlepic=634,175,,,right]We barely got to Thailand and already we were off and running. Our next stop – Trang in the south. This is where CCS’s other Thailand program is based and I was excited to see the staff again and have Michael meet them. It’s a short flight to Trang so we arrived in time for an early lunch with the staff. All of the volunteers had already left for the weekend, so we had them all to ourselves.
Over a delicious spicy meal the staff deliberated on what Michael’s Thai nickname should be (everyone in Thailand has a nickname). When I was last here, they bestowed “Chabaa” upon me, which translates into hibiscus flower (or crazy woman, depending on the tone. And that’s how I probably pronounce it as I always get laughs after I introduce myself). So they decided Michael should be “Nahm” which means water. Because, as they say, Chabaa needs Nahm. Awwwww.
Michael and I traveled to Thailand as part of our 2007 career break. The following is an excerpt from our travel blog.
[singlepic=607,200,,,right]Of course our stop wasn’t just about the tsunami – we also managed to squeeze in some trips. On one of these trips we visited Khao Sok National Park. Known for its great jungle treks, we decided to let the elephants do all the work on this particular trek. Lumbering along from atop our ride, we were taken along a beautiful hike to a waterfall, where we would stop for a “rest” and the elephants would get a bath.
After meandering back, we got to reward our ride with a “tip” – bananas. We followed suit and had lunch at one of the parks lodges, which consisted of tree top bungalows. Then a canoe trip down the jungle river, passing large limestone karsts that are believed to have been part of a reef system spanning from China to Borneo – five times the size of the Great Barrier Reef.
Michael and I traveled to Australia as part of our 2007 career break. The following is an excerpt from our travel blog.
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Another bright and early day as we set off from the Hervey Bay area and headed south to Brisbane via train. Four hours later and we were awaiting our flight north to Proserpine. From there a shuttle bus took us to Airlie Beach. And then we made our way by foot to Abel Point Marina. By sunset we were on a catamaran and ready to set sail for the Whitsunday Islands. After so much movement in our first week, we were looking forward to anchoring ourselves in one spot for three days – even if our home was moving itself.
One of my favorite experiences from my last visit was sailing the Whitsundays, and I wanted Michael to experience it as well. And Michael was really looking forward to diving the Great Barrier Reef. With our tight schedule, we were uncertain if we could squeeze both in, but luckily our boat, the Pacific Star, cruised the Whitsundays and motored out to the outer reef for diving and snorkeling. Perfectly timed. Now we hoped the weather would cooperate.
